Paper box



May 7, 1929. E. w. LABQMBARDE 1,711,991

PAPER` B ox Filed Dec. 50, 1925 gf W/MJ Patented May 7, 1929. l

UNITED STATES ELIE W. LABOMBARDE, F NASHUA, HAMPSHIRE.

PAPER BOX.

Application led December 30,4925. Serial No. 78,440.

This invention relates to the production of paper boxes which can bemanufactured complete and stored or shippedto users in flat condition,and which can then be set up to container foi-1n bythe users without theemployment of any adhesive, certain overlapping liap portions of theblanks being 1nterlocked when set up.

Boxes of the general type above described are quite well known but havenot been as satisfactory as glued set up boxes for several reasons, onebeing that the operation of securing the proper inter-relation of theflaps to lock them together has not been easy to perform, andanotherbeing that the boxes, after being set up and locked, are not as strongas the usual glued set up boxes.

One of the obiects of my present invention is to provide boxes of thetype referred'to,

' 20 the blanks for which bear visual indications of the proper way toconvert them to interlocked condition.

Anotherv object is to provide boxes of said type with the interlockingportions of such form, and` so located, as to result in their possessingthe utmost strength when set up.

With the above mentioned objects in view, the invention consists in theblank and the box substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention as embodiedin a box suitable for containing confectionery Figure 1 is a plan viewof the blank from the side which presents the outer surface when set upto box form.

Figure 2 represents a section on line 2--2 of Figure 1 on an enlargedscale.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the blank partly set up and justbefore reaching interlocked condition.

Figure 4 is an end view of the box set u and closed.

Figure 5 represents a section on line '5-.5 of Figure 4 on an enlargedscale.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts or features in allof the views.

The material of which the boxes are made is'cut and creased to provideblanks such as illustrated by Figure 1. Each blank comprises a bottomsection 12, a front wall section 13, and a rear wall section 14 fromwhich a cover section 15 having a tucking iiap 16 extends. The section12 has end flaps 17, the section 14 has end flaps 18, and the section 13has end iaps 19 the latter having ornamental set up tabs 20. No noveltyis claimed for a box or blank as so far described.

'Each fiap 18 has a straight inclined slit a extending from the creaseline which defines the connection of said flap with the rear wallsection 14. This location of the slit a close to the rear wall sectionis important for a reason that will be presently explained.

llach flap 19 is recessed as at b Aand is formed with a rounded tonguec, and has a short straight slit ,al extendinr in fromvits outer edge,the two slits (Z being exactly parallel with the two slits a. Slits dalso may be provided.

As best illust-rated by Figure 2, the material at the upper edge of eachslit al is bent or deflected as indicated at e to expose the lower edgeof said slit, for a purpose presently explained. Such bending ordeflection is easily effected by suitably formed portions of the dieswhich cut and crease the blanks, as will be readily understood. Ofcourse the upper edge of the slit might be left iiatand the loweredgeinstead be bent or deflected so as to expose it for tucking aspresently dcscribed.

The iaps 18 and19 bear printed portions of a design, the said portionsbeing so located Qn the flaps that when the blank is set up to box formthe design will be complete (see Figure 4). In other words, each flaphas a blank area and a printed area and by itself is so incomplete as toindicate nothing. A showing of the complete design can be effected onlyby a correct concealing of the tongue c behind the iap 18 and theconcealing of the blank portion of the flap 18 behind the Hap 19, and toeiect such concealment the tongue c -must be tucked into the slit aFigure 3) and the ap 19 then pushed way own (Figs. 4 and 5) at whichtime the slits a and d automatically interlock. The bending ordellection of the edge of the slit a at e enables the edge of the tonguec to be easily inserted into-the slit a.

It will now be understood that the incomplete designs borne by the flapswhich are to be interlocked cooperate with the blank areas of said flapsand with the slits on and d d indicating to anyone the correct method offolding the blanks to set up form with the flaps interlocked, beca-useonly by such correct folding and interlocking will the ends of the boxillustrate the complete design. In practice, words or legends may beprinted, partly on the flaps 18 and partly on the flaps 19. Thetherdesigns, or words, or both, are employed, a person will readily see thatto set up the-blank to box form so that the ends will look finished, hemust so fold the blank that, at each end, all of lap 19 except itstongue c will be outside of the i'lap 1S, and that to conceal the blanktongue c and not hide any party of the design on flap 18, he must tuckthe tongue into the slit o and push it completely down, at which timethe edgesof the slits a and d will be in interlocking positions. Owingto the slits a and (Z being straight and parallel, their edges willinterlock or abut for the full length of the slit i and consequently theinterlocking is strong and positive. This is largely due also to thefact that the inter-engagement is close to the rear wall 14 asillustrated by Figures 3 and 4, which rear -Wall connects the two endflaps 18 and so holds the edges ot' the' slits in opposition asillustrated by Figure 5. The iiaps can not be unlocked unless by a verycareful manipulation of a thin instrument inserted between the flaps 18and 19 and slid along between them as far as the rear Wall of the boxwill permit. y

A particular advantage ofthe construction with the slits (L in the flapswhieh'extend from the4 rear Wall section and said slits extending closeto lthe creases at the ends of said rearl Wall section, While the slitsd extend in from the edge of the front Wall section, is that thelocation of the interlocking portions is close to the rear Wall of thebox. Thereforev when the lid or cover of the box is raised and pushedback to give full access to the. contents of the box there is little orno tendency to cause an unlocking ot the flaps such as would exist ifthe interlocking members were located adjacent to the front wall of thebox.

As illustrated by Figures 1, 3 and 4, the design lprinted on the flaps1S and' 19 is such that when the box is in set up condition thc presenceof the interlocking portions, or the existence thereof, is camouflaged.This is because the slits a and d and the edge of the cut away portionZ) are close to and parallel with some of the edges of the printeddesign portions, so that said slits and the edge of the recess Z) arenot readily noticeable.

It is to be understood, of course, that I do not limit myself to thespecific shape or proportions of the box illustrated, as the inventionis adapted to many different shapes or sizes of boxes.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

A paper box blank havingaps provided with slits in locations to provide`interlocks when the box is in set up condition, each'of lsaid iapsbearing an incomplete portion of a design which is completed when thebox isset up, the margins of said incomplete design portionscorresponding with the slits' of the flaps, whereby said incompletedesigns and slits not only cooperate to indicate the correct method offolding the blank to set up `form but also serve to camouflage thepresence of the slits in the completed box.

In testimony whereof I have atHxed my signature. i

ELIE W. LABOMBARDE.

